Can red light improve vision?

After the age of 40, vision begins to worsen for many people and by the age of 50 almost everyone feels that their near vision is slowly but progressively getting worse. Red light phototherapy sessions, which can be done at home, can help preserve vision.

Irradiate the eyes with long wave light

The eyes get worse because the cells of the retina lose their effectiveness with age. Your little power plants, the mitochondria, weaken.

Throughout life, energy production in the mitochondria of these cells decreases about 70%, with the result that eyesight deteriorates with age.

But this process can be stopped and even reversed with short sessions of red light, according to Professor Glen Jeffery of University College London.

Healing red light for the eyes

“Long wave red light, from 650 to 900 nanometers is taken up by the mitochondria and improves their performance so they start their energy production again,” says Professor Jeffery.

The first studies with bumblebees, fruit flies and finally mice were promising. The animals’ eyes improved significantly when they were regularly exposed to dark red light with a wavelength of 670 nanometers.

Jeffery then tried on 24 people aged between 28 and 72 years. After having carefully examined and documented the condition of their eyes, they were all given a small LED lamp that produced a dark red light with a wavelength of 670 nm. Participants in this study were required to face the light for three minutes a day for two weeks.

Phototherapy only works for people over the age of 40.

Light therapy had no effect in the younger participants, but participants over the age of 40 showed significant improvements in their eyesight.

Color vision improved by 20%, especially in the blue color spectrum. The ability to see at dusk and color vision also improved significantly in those over 40.

With a simple, safe and cheap measure, one can, so to speak, recharge the batteries of the retinal cells and strengthen the already declining eyesight, says Jeffery, summarizing the result of his study.

One day of phototherapy a week is enough

The following study by Jeffery and his team was published on November 24, 2021 in the journal Scientific Reports. He showed that a red light session for three minutes once a week is enough.

To receive the light the eyes do not have to be open. Light also acts through closed eyelids.

Phototherapy should be performed in the morning (between 8 and 9), because the same procedure at noon or in the evening has no effect. The view improves an average of 17 and the effect is maintained for a week.

The power of the LED lamp used was 8mW/cm2 (milliwatts per square centimeter).

Phototherapy, more nutrients for the eyes

In the studies, the results were not equally good for all participants. It can be assumed that there are other factors that influence the degree of vision improvement with phototherapy.

However, since no negative effects have been observed and the therapy is simple and inexpensive, it might well be worth a try.

Scientific references:

Glen Jeffery et al. Weeklong improved color contrasts sensitivity after single 670 nm exposures associated with enhanced mitochondrial function. Scientific Reports. Glen Jeffery et al. Optically Improved Mitochondrial Function Redeems Aged Human Visual Decline. The Journal of Gerontology.